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solar

 - 7 dictionary results

so⋅lar

1[soh-ler]
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to the sun: solar phenomena.
2. determined by the sun: solar hour.
3. proceeding from the sun, as light or heat.
4. utilizing, operated by, or depending on solar energy: a solar building; a solar stove.
5. indicating time by means of or with reference to the sun: a solar chronometer.
6. manufacturing or providing solar power: the solar industry.
7. Astrology. subject to the influence of the sun.
–noun
8. Informal. solar energy.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L sōlāris, equiv. to sōl sun + -āris -ar 1

sol⋅ar

2[sol-er, soh-ler]
–noun
a private or upper chamber in a medieval English house.
Also, sollar, soller.


Origin:
bef. 900; ME solar, soler < AF soler, OF solier < L sōlārium solarium; cf. OE solor, soler, MD solre loft < L

solar energy

–noun
energy derived from the sun in the form of solar radiation.
Also called solar.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To solar
so·lar   (sō'lər)   
adj.  
  1. Of, relating to, or proceeding from the sun: solar rays; solar physics.

  2. Using or operated by energy derived from the sun: a solar heating system.

  3. Determined or measured in reference to the sun: the solar year.


[Middle English, from Latin sōlāris, from sōl, sun; see sāwel- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Science Dictionary
solar   (sō'lər)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. Relating to the Sun.

  2. Using or operated by energy from the Sun.

  3. Measured in reference to the Sun.


solar energy  
  1. The radiant energy emitted by the Sun.

  2. Energy derived from the Sun's radiation. Passive solar energy can be exploited through architectural design, as by positioning windows to allow sunlight to enter and help heat a space. Active solar energy involves the conversion of sunlight to electrical energy, especially in solar (photovoltaic) cells. See also solar cell.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Encyclopedia

solar

in architecture, private room located on the floor above the great hall in a late medieval English manor house. The solar served as a kind of parlour to which the family of the owner of the manor house or castle could retire from the bustling communal living of the hall below. In fact, by the late 14th century the solar was more often called the "retiring room." Up a flight of stairs from the dais, or platform, end of the hall, the solar usually had an adjacent chapel.

Learn more about solar with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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